Ahead of the upcoming Club World Cup, Seattle Sounders players have voiced dissatisfaction over their potential bonus shares. In a pre-game protest against Minnesota United, players wore shirts displaying “Club World Ca$h Grab” on the front and “Fair Share Now” on the back, highlighting their concerns about tournament bonuses. The Sounders are guaranteed at least $9.5 million from their participation, with potential for more if they secure points in a challenging Group B against Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, and Paris Saint-Germain.
Reports indicate that Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer reacted angrily to the protest shirts, reportedly addressing the team in the locker room post-match. The team also opted out of their usual media duties, choosing to show solidarity. The core problem is rooted in the MLS collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which limits players to receiving only 50% of earnings from external tournaments, capped at $1 million per team. Although this cap is an improvement on the past, much of the expected prize money won`t be accessible to the players under the current terms.
The Sounders` participation in events like the Concacaf Champions Cup and the upcoming Leagues Cup already generates significant club revenue, pushing potential player bonuses past the $1 million threshold defined by the CBA. This adds to an already packed schedule, as they will play through the MLS summer break and potentially deep into November if they advance in the MLS Cup playoffs.
Sounders players contend the current CBA is outdated because it was agreed upon before the massive prize money for this specific Club World Cup iteration was known. While fellow MLS participants Los Angeles FC and Inter Miami haven`t publicly protested yet, their players face the same bonus limitations.
What the Sounders Say
Sounders captain and goalkeeper Stefan Frei commented publicly on the team`s stance.
“It`s a shame that we`re two weeks away and we have absolutely no clue [about the bonuses],” Frei stated. “We tried avenues that were private, respectful. I think what we`re asking for is something that`s fair. We`re not asking to make more than what I think FIFA thought would be fair to the players.”
The current CBA runs until 2028, meaning any increase in player compensation would require an agreement outside the existing terms, a change the MLS Players Association supports. Although the Sounders have previously played in the Club World Cup, prize money wasn`t a point of contention then because the pool was much smaller, guaranteeing the team only $500,000 compared to the $9.5 million minimum this time.
The Players` Association`s Stance
The MLS Players Association (MLSPA) released a statement expressing solidarity:
“The MLSPA and all MLS players stand united with the Seattle Sounders players who tonight demanded a fair share of the FIFA Club World Cup prize money.”
The statement continued: “FIFA`s new tournament adds significantly to players` already heavy schedules without adequate consideration for their physical well-being. To carve out this extra time on the calendar, FIFA committed unprecedented prize money to ensure club and player involvement. Consequently, MLS is set to receive an unprecedented financial windfall.”
“Despite this windfall, the league has refused to allocate a fair percentage of those funds to the players themselves.
For months, the players have privately and respectfully invited the league to discuss bonus terms, yet MLS has failed to bring forward a reasonable proposal. Instead of recognizing the players who have brought MLS to the global stage, the league—which routinely asks the MLSPA to deviate from the CBA—is clinging to an out-of-date CBA provision and ignoring longstanding international standards on what players typically receive from FIFA prize money in global competitions.
It is the players who make the game possible. It is the players who are lifting MLS up on the global stage. They expect to be treated fairly and with respect.”
What Comes Next?
As neither team ownership nor FIFA has commented on the dispute, the Sounders and other MLS teams are expected to compete in the Club World Cup under the existing bonus structure. While there are no threats to boycott the tournament starting June 14, this issue is likely to persist and will be a key point for negotiation when the current CBA expires in 2028.
